ROTTERDAM: Family's legacy is hair apparent

After retiring from General Electric and Bernie's Barbershop in 1994, Viscusi went on to operate Fusco Barbershop in Rotterdam for nine years and then joined his brother Renato at Renato's Barbershop in Rotterdam.

At 67, Bernie Viscusi has no plans of retiring. Renato's Barbershop is one of the few shops that open at 6:30 a.m., and both Viscusi brothers are there.

Customers come from all over the Capital District to visit the Viscusis including some from Glenmont, Hudson and Cohoes. Bernie Viscusi even has a few clients who have followed him from his very first shop.

"We made our living out of barbering, we raised our family out of it. Now we have so many old friends that come here and we talk. We still love our customers, and we love to serve them," Viscusi said.

Now, the next generation of Viscusi is taking over the shop -- Renato's son Ziggy Viscusi.

"We have old-fashioned charms, but we aren't old fashion," Ziggy Viscusi said.

In contrast to the hot lather and straight razors, the shop has high-tech, flat-screen televisions mounted on the walls.

But, charm is what is so attractive about Renato's Barbershop. Both Viscusi brothers still speak with Italian accents, are quick to offer an espresso, and love showing off their family photographs displayed on every inch of wall space, including a poster-size photo of their hometown village in Italy.

Renato's Barbershop is located at 315 Mariaville Road in Rotterdam. ""